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Hi all
Please forgive me if this is off topic. We’re travelling to China as part of a bigger tour in March. Does anyone have experience of the visa process, or the various companies which claim to do it all for you? Simple single entry tourist visa for myself and wife.
thanks
dq
Hi all
Please forgive me if this is off topic. We’re travelling to China as part of a bigger tour in March. Does anyone have experience of the visa process, or the various companies which claim to do it all for you? Simple single entry tourist visa for myself and wife.
thanks
dq
I don’t believe companies can organise it for you any longer. They may assist you with the form but each passenger needs to attend the visa centre in person to have fingerprints and photo taken (to check against the one supplied with the form). I don’t think they operate the appointment system any longer, and you can expect to wait quite a long time at the visa centre to be seen. Once your application has been accepted, you should be able to collect your passport in about three days. It’s cash/debit card only.
@JDB — any idea if China will introduce e-visas for UK passport holders any time soon?
@JDB — any idea if China will introduce e-visas for UK passport holders any time soon?
It’s a combination of reciprocity and state of friendliness and we don’t score very well on either! I hope it will change as I need to get a new visa in a few months, but I’m not very hopeful. They have now introduced a 10 day transit visit, but in a country the size of China, that’s not very long.
It is a pity especially the continental Europe is now largely visa free to visit China.
I also benefited from their transit allowance in the past but the visa process, the wait and the cost for the whole family, makes me hesitate.
My company paid a ridiculous amount for a service company to ‘process’ my application which basically involved a trivial form check and pointing me down the stairs at the London visa office.
The visa form is 95% obvious stuff. Take your time and use traveller forums to search for unclear questions. Feel free to follow up here if you are unsure.
But you will need to go in person for the fingerprints. The whole process is very efficient and takes a little over a week.
Enjoy China – it’s a fabulous country to visit. If you want an insight into the food, Fuschia Dunlop’s food memoir Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper is exceptional.
It is a pity especially the continental Europe is now largely visa free to visit China.
I also benefited from their transit allowance in the past but the visa process, the wait and the cost for the whole family, makes me hesitate.
All I can say is I wouldn’t let a bit of admin prevent me from visiting such an amazing country that just has so much to offer on so many fronts and at a fraction of the price of visiting Europe, US or even many Asian countries. A full visa also enables you to travel more freely, for longer and to fly in and out rather transiting to a third country.
We have no reason to be biased, but completely hooked on the place from great experiences, so currently planning our 13th trip (not unlucky in China although some hotels still skip the 13th floor as well as the dreaded 4s).
10 day transit visit
When we were interviewed at both PKX and PEK by both a television channel and the airport authorities regarding our opinion on the 144-hour visa last summer, when asked how we’d improve the system, apart from saying “By making sure the BA check-in desk at LHR know about it” ;o), we did point out that extending it would encourage people to stay in their wonderful country longer.
You’re welcome!
@JDB — any idea if China will introduce e-visas for UK passport holders any time soon?
One of the very, very few things the UK has been right with in the last couple of years.
With Reeves in China kowtowing to the malignant CCP leadership I’m sure UK’s standing is about to increase with China. e-visas no doubt will follow.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
@JDB — any idea if China will introduce e-visas for UK passport holders any time soon?
One of the very, very few things the UK has been right with in the last couple of years.
With Reeves in China kowtowing to the malignant CCP leadership I’m sure UK’s standing is about to increase with China. e-visas no doubt will follow.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
That strict and narrow approach to politics would make your argument looks exactly like that of CCP.
I think Reeves should approach China (and Taiwan) for political and economic gain for this country. Little compromises for the long game doesn’t mean that you support Xi or CCP ideologically.@JDB — any idea if China will introduce e-visas for UK passport holders any time soon?
It’s a combination of reciprocity and state of friendliness and we don’t score very well on either! I hope it will change as I need to get a new visa in a few months, but I’m not very hopeful. They have now introduced a 10 day transit visit, but in a country the size of China, that’s not very long.
Why is that exactly? The only EU countries I can think of that are still excluded from the visa free regime are those like CZ and LT, which have said politically incorrect things about Tibet, whereas UK governments of all stripes seem to bend over backwards to avoid giving offence to China in such matters.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
Why any sane LGBT person would want to enter Malaysia in the current climate boggles the mind.
See works in other countries too. The same language can be applied to some speech in the UK.
Why does China require a visa for UK visitors specifically? The only EU countries I can think of that are still excluded from the visa free regime are those like CZ and LT, which have said politically incorrect things about Tibet, whereas UK governments of all stripes seem to bend over backwards to avoid giving offence to China in such matters.
Why does China require a visa for UK visitors specifically? The only EU countries I can think of that are still excluded from the visa free regime are those like CZ and LT, which have said politically incorrect things about Tibet, whereas UK governments of all stripes seem to bend over backwards to avoid giving offence to China in such matters.
There are other mainstream countries like Sweden that aren’t in the club and places like North Macedonia that are! We have a number of sanctioned politicians that have said things to upset, we are blocking the plans for a new embassy in London and have pressed for bans on tech being used in e.g. UK phone networks. There’s also the question of reciprocity – we make it hard for them to visit us. Much easier to get a Schengen visa. We are in the new 10 day transit visa regime.
As above, I wouldn’t let the need to obtain a visa put anyone off going.
10 day transit WITHOUT visa. Not a visa.
Incidentally, Norway was excluded from the 72/144 hour transit without visa programme for several years because of a spat related to the Nobel prize.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
Why any sane LGBT person would want to enter Malaysia in the current climate boggles the mind.
See works in other countries too. The same language can be applied to some speech in the UK.
Spot on! People are so selective about this. Whenever certain ME countries are mentioned, there are posters who say they could never go there because of their high principles but those same people trot off to Vietnam, a horribly oppressive one party communist regime where dissent is not tolerated and met with a large number of executions. Principles fly out of the window, to be replaced by hypocrisy because Vietnam is cheap and cheerful I guess.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
Why any sane LGBT person would want to enter Malaysia in the current climate boggles the mind.
See works in other countries too. The same language can be applied to some speech in the UK.
Spot on! People are so selective about this. Whenever certain ME countries are mentioned, there are posters who say they could never go there because of their high principles but those same people trot off to Vietnam, a horribly oppressive one party communist regime where dissent is not tolerated and met with a large number of executions. Principles fly out of the window, to be replaced by hypocrisy because Vietnam is cheap and cheerful I guess.
How many other countries have national security laws with vague language with vague laws such as causing trouble and picking quarrels and even vaguer definitions of state secrets, that basically enable arbitrary detention of anybody at any time?
China is no worse than other countries because of lgbt laws etc is just a poor straw man argument.
If you think Chinese people don’t think every non-Han Chinese isn’t a sworn enemy I have a bridge to sell you. Sixty years of social conditioning with the CCP using a revolving door of external scapegoats, combined with drilling into generations of Chinese every slight and injury the country has suffered at the hands of foreigners over the last 150 years, means the vast majority of mainland Chinese are ultranationalist.
I know. I lived there for 12 years. Been to every province. Speak fluent mandarin, and have many Chinese friends. Get to know some Chinese people and gain their trust. Ask them their true feelings about Japan, the South China Sea, what they think ‘greater China’ is, America, Europe, India. And that’s not even going close to the obvious Taiwan.
Culturally Chinese play the long game. They are not our friends. They will smile and take you for dinner, compliment you and build the relationship. But don’t mistake any of that for caring. Deep down they resent you for what you represent.
So sure, try and equate some random other countries with China. Anybody who truly understands China knows it ain’t even close.
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
Why any sane LGBT person would want to enter Malaysia in the current climate boggles the mind.
See works in other countries too. The same language can be applied to some speech in the UK.
Spot on! People are so selective about this. Whenever certain ME countries are mentioned, there are posters who say they could never go there because of their high principles but those same people trot off to Vietnam, a horribly oppressive one party communist regime where dissent is not tolerated and met with a large number of executions. Principles fly out of the window, to be replaced by hypocrisy because Vietnam is cheap and cheerful I guess.
How many other countries have national security laws with vague language with vague laws such as causing trouble and picking quarrels and even vaguer definitions of state secrets, that basically enable arbitrary detention of anybody at any time?
China is no worse than other countries because of lgbt laws etc is just a poor straw man argument.
If you think Chinese people don’t think every non-Han Chinese isn’t a sworn enemy I have a bridge to sell you. Sixty years of social conditioning with the CCP using a revolving door of external scapegoats, combined with drilling into generations of Chinese every slight and injury the country has suffered at the hands of foreigners over the last 150 years, means the vast majority of mainland Chinese are ultranationalist.
I know. I lived there for 12 years. Been to every province. Speak fluent mandarin, and have many Chinese friends. Get to know some Chinese people and gain their trust. Ask them their true feelings about Japan, the South China Sea, what they think ‘greater China’ is, America, Europe, India. And that’s not even going close to the obvious Taiwan.
Culturally Chinese play the long game. They are not our friends. They will smile and take you for dinner, compliment you and build the relationship. But don’t mistake any of that for caring. Deep down they resent you for what you represent.
So sure, try and equate some random other countries with China. Anybody who truly understands China knows it ain’t even close.
Lol, weird
Why any sane non-Han Chinese person would want to enter that country in the current climate boggles the mind.
Why any sane LGBT person would want to enter Malaysia in the current climate boggles the mind.
See works in other countries too. The same language can be applied to some speech in the UK.
Spot on! People are so selective about this. Whenever certain ME countries are mentioned, there are posters who say they could never go there because of their high principles but those same people trot off to Vietnam, a horribly oppressive one party communist regime where dissent is not tolerated and met with a large number of executions. Principles fly out of the window, to be replaced by hypocrisy because Vietnam is cheap and cheerful I guess.
How many other countries have national security laws with vague language with vague laws such as causing trouble and picking quarrels and even vaguer definitions of state secrets, that basically enable arbitrary detention of anybody at any time?
China is no worse than other countries because of lgbt laws etc is just a poor straw man argument.
If you think Chinese people don’t think every non-Han Chinese isn’t a sworn enemy I have a bridge to sell you. Sixty years of social conditioning with the CCP using a revolving door of external scapegoats, combined with drilling into generations of Chinese every slight and injury the country has suffered at the hands of foreigners over the last 150 years, means the vast majority of mainland Chinese are ultranationalist.
I know. I lived there for 12 years. Been to every province. Speak fluent mandarin, and have many Chinese friends. Get to know some Chinese people and gain their trust. Ask them their true feelings about Japan, the South China Sea, what they think ‘greater China’ is, America, Europe, India. And that’s not even going close to the obvious Taiwan.
Culturally Chinese play the long game. They are not our friends. They will smile and take you for dinner, compliment you and build the relationship. But don’t mistake any of that for caring. Deep down they resent you for what you represent.
So sure, try and equate some random other countries with China. Anybody who truly understands China knows it ain’t even close.
Maoism in a nutshell.
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